S "I" '
THE SCRANTOX TRIBUNE-TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 19011.1
i
History of Carbondale.
M 4
t
Zr&
IN APPROACHING the history of
Carbondale, tlin fact that stands
out won prominently Is th'tt with
the birth or this place nlso took place
the birth of the Brent anthracite, coal
Industry.
''Onrbondale la the ' Anthracite City."
-Il'TS nlso-the pioneer city of the an
thracite region, nnd nniung It claim
"nTs.one Is foremost that It Is the oldr
est pjty;ln the hard coal regions. When
CiVbondale was a elty fifteen years.
ReXijnton took on that dignity, and It
was' five years after this when Wilkes
Rflrre was clothed In Its municipal rai
ment. The history of Cnrbondale Is not
fraught with greit nchlpvemetits: It
cannot lay claim to any ureal accom
plishments such as the pushing and
bustling "Dlectrlc City" down the val
ley, but It cm boast of
A 'bold pfJMMiv, their lOimlr.C pi Mr.
Whfn onro detrojcl, ran noil I mpplicl
Carbondale Is proud of her contribu
tions to the civic, financial and social
life of the county. They were u sturdy
band, those Welsh and Irish settlers
useJ to hoist the cars, but those prov- I The population of the town nnd town-
, frequently break- ship, in IMO, was z.ms. Tne lanns in
lnc unsatisfactory by
Ing, when cars ascended the plnnes,
tarred ropes weie substituted in in.iu.
Beginning with 1S33 freight was car
ried. The gravity road was extended
to Archbald In lMfi, to Olyphant hi
1819, the year In which the llrst pas
tcngcr train tan there.
In the "Annals of Luzerne County,"
published by Stewart Penrce In 1566, It
s.iys ol Carbondale:
Pilar to that time It was a borough.
The llrst house In the place was built
by Maurice Wurts, esq., In 1821, nnd for
some yeais was ued as a boarding
house, and called the 'Log Tavern."
"In the year P28 a Catholic church
was built, also a union church, occu
pied by the Protestants, and a si honl
Iioimc. Willi a few exceptions, the fol
lowing named gentlemen arc the only
persjns residing In Curbondnle who
located here prior to 1ST10: lir. T.
Sweet, D. X. Lathrop, .1. M. Poor. S. K.
Itayner. Samuel Mills, It. D. Marvin,
Henry .Johnson, Steven Rogers and D.
Yairlngtoii.
"There are a court house and Jail
ntt Mtriinvui
( jrlKinilnlf rn-i Moor
who came to the village that grew to
the city, ths tlrst In the anthracite
region: and today their sons aie In emi
nent places all over the country. Their
Influence Is felt and their names arc
-honored throughout the length anil
breadth of the land, and Cnrbond-ile
will be proud to welcome them to the
"seats of their jouth" dining these
days of jubilating Joy.
The Name of Cnrbondnle.
It was the magic power of co.il that
leveled the foiests and raised the city
of Carbondale, and to this the i Ity
owes Its name. Washington Irving.
. the great novelist. It was, who gave
the name to the city. He was Inter-
.CMert In the Delaware and Hudson Ca
nal company and he showed a becom
ing sense of appreciation of the eternal
fitness of things when he christened
the thn thiivlng village "Carbondale."
This was In 1J9. aftir the completion
of the road to llonesdal". Some freight
came over the road labeled "P. & II.
C. Co,, Carbondale." The name fitted
so wiill that It remains to this day.
Birth of Coal Industry.
The birth of the coal Industry dale
back to 18.':s, when William Wurt of
Philadelphia, and his bi other. Maurice,
secured tiaets of land" fmm the
C'lHkers who owned them, and began
to dig out coal trom the hillsides. The
first shipments w Me lloated down the
Delaware river from Lnckawaxen to
Philadelphia, but when they were
brought in competition with Lehigh
coal, the Wurts' turned their attention
to the New York market, and tills Is
bote and a recorder's court for th" city
Is held four times in each year by Hon.
John X. Conyngham. There Is also a
mayor's court held four times a year.
"The city contains .16 dealers In mer
chandise, 24 restauionts, .1 hotels and 5
churches; also - machine shops and 3
foundries. There Is only one brick
building In the city.
"The pipxent population Is estimated
nt 'MO, of whom probably three
fouiths, Including the chlldrei are
foreigners, are native born Americans.
About one-half of the adult popula
tion Is thought to be foreign born."
Looked Like nn Aimy Camp.
In the history of counties of Pennsjl
v.inla, publisher, by Sherman Da In
ISI'!. the stoiy of Carboiidale's i.ireei
up to that period Is Interesting Mat
ed as follows:
"Carhondale. now a populous bor
ough, has spuing up within a few .ii
by the wonderful power of anthra- it
coal. It was slutted by the Delano i
and Hudson Canal company, who um
the mines about this plat about th
year 1S26. The coal mine is out nr
tile most extensive ot tile L:u k.iwiti
nil basin. Ms pioducts an tiai
porttd at the rate of 5iiii to to tm
ilnlly by Inclined planes and laiho,. 1
over the Mooslc mountain to Hon. tln
and theme b c.mai to N'ew York M'b
coal was tonnerly vvt ought by l.i u?
bate the sin face of the Minium I at l
now excavated by-means of diifts and
side chambers. It Is sent away m insr
as mined. About ,'riu inlneis ennilo.vid,
they are paid by the ton: two mi u
coiitiactlug tor a ilinmocr Tin u.o
Mils city wotv originally owned by Mr.
Russell, ii wealthy Fngllsh gentleman,
who resided with or near Dr. Priestly,
at Northumberland. He took up large
tracts In the north part of the state,"
Pioneer Days of Mining.
The llrst opening for coal was mado
nt th' foot of what was then known
as Chanty 1 1111. now the West Side, at
a point opposite the Seventh nvenue
crossing of the Delaware and Hudson
company. The coal obtained here was
the outciopirtng and traces of It can
b seen to this day. It was "picked"
out and was wheeled on barrows. Sub
sequently levels were driven at points
close to the opening. The coal Indus
try was the one which called Into play
the mtlvitles of the early settlers, and
as they developed, so did the town. It
wns the growth of this Industry that
speeded developments In other direc
tions nnd as the mine openings In
creased so also the signs of Carbon
dale's prosperity multiplied. With the
extension of the gravity from Hones
dale and to Archbald, then the Intro
diiciion of th" llrst stenm locomotive,
the "Major Sykes," which Is now dis
mantled In a stall in the Delaware and
Hudon eoinpnny's round house In this
city; next the building of the Jefferson
division of the Krle all these were fac
tors In forcing the growth of Carbon
dale until ls.il. the time of Its Incor
poration as a city, when It was quite a
nourishing town.
Cnrbondnle ns a City.
In 15.11 Carbondale wns an Important
center In this section of the state.
Houses had multiplied, churches nnd
schools were numerous, and to the resi
dents there were strong reasons for the
necessity of being possessed of the
powers of a city. Carbondale was only
a village then, it hnd not reached ns
yet the dignity of a borough. Hut this
via only so far ns th" powers of gov
ernment were lomerned. Carbondal
i.ins rightly believed that they were
entitled to the powers and the protec
tion atfordi'd by icason of being lncor
poi.Ucil. It was especially desltous
that the town have a court of Its own,
which would obviate the Inconvenience
and dllllculty of traveling over thirty
miles by stage to Wllkes-Bnrre, the
nullity sat of Luzerne. Accordingly
alter the disastrous tire of over a half
a century ago, a meeting of citizens
was held, the following report of which
Is taken ironi the Lackawanna Jour
nal of Oct. is. 1510:
"Klrst That as the llrst of a series
of measures n?iessary for our protec
tion against lire, wo take early steps
to procure through the legislature a
city Loijinrntlnn.
"Second That a committee of twenty-live
citizens be appoint d to act ns
a police on all occasions of fire to pro
tec t property from plunder, that has
been rescued from the Unities; and that
I Thomas Dickson, Evan Harris nnd
Thomas Gillespie select such commit-
t?e and leport ut a future meeting.
I "Third That a committee of seven
j be appointed to procure, by subscrlp-
tlon. funds adequate for the purchas
ing of engines and hose to extinguish
fires, it such should again occur.
I Whereupon the president appointed
' James Archbald, James Dickson, Thom
as (iillesple, Judson Clark, Anthony
Miles, Anthony Grady and Henry Ev
ans said ( ommlttee."
The bill Incorporating Carbondale
was passed in 1R.11 The member In
tin lglsatuie was S S. Henedlct nnd
in lite senate was Hon. C. It. Pucka-
Carbondale's Leading Clothing: Store,
Singer's Park Clothing House,
Temporary Location, Salem Avenue.
i J
VISIT CARBONDALE
During the Semi-Centennial.
Make our store your headquarters. Come for general infor
mation, rest and recreation.
In Our Temporary Location The Old Globe Store, Salem Avenue,
OUR GREAT REBUILDING CLEARING SALE
Offers Exceptional Values to Economical Buyers.
The opportunities offered during semi-centennial week will make your visit to Car
bondale doubly interesting.
Bring your boys with you. Our selections of strong, serviceable, School Suits are of
so much interest that prices will help you, styles will attract you and the make all that good
garments require.
To your advantage include our store in your visit to Carbondale this week.
Our Temporary Location, The Old Globe Store, Salem Avenue,
SINGER'S
PARK CLOTHING HOUSE
O
what led to the ItulldliiK of the liela- I ot t1P neichlioriiiK land I allowed
vaie nnd Hudson canal, which wm
completed In !:'!.
., The tlrst house In (irnondule won
"the" old ins tiivern hown anions to
ri, ty's illu.'tiMtlnii!. This was located
ncr.r th" pies-mt city Matlon of the
Delaware and Hudson company. Thin
old tavein ha lieen occupied by fami
lies who are here nnd ainoiiK those
wlicse nioilent home was theie Is John
Cortland, the present prothonotary of
Lackawanna county.
Tho Pioneer Railway.
The (jravitv road vvni the pioneer
railway, and lt (miinletlnn In lJ.i
gave first communication with the
world outside of the wilderness of the
Krovvinie village. Chains were tlrst
them tiee for the purpose of bundiiif,
nhantlt'"-. The miners are print Ip.illy
Irish and Welsh and lompose a lnri;i
part of the population of th place
Their shanties aie crowded together on
tvvu hills. liNh Hill ithls Is now the
West Side), nnd Welsh 11111. and from
the village have the appearance of till
camp of an army In winter iuarteis.
Hnd a DustlitiK Business-Like Air.
"The dwelling of the mercantile nnd
professional citizens In the village are
ne.it and pleasantly adorned with
trees, and the pl.ue has quite a bust
liliK. bUHlUi-ss-llUe alt.
"Theie are here Catholic Presbyter
Ian, Kplscopal, Methodist. Wcbdi Rap
list nnd Independent Welsh churches.
II Ul 1 1 ..nr
Vll l M ' Til.lMM.T
lew. The idly charter was slsned by
Ciovemor William K. Johnston on
Manh 1.1 of the following year.
The First Election.
The llrst election hold that year, nr
lordins to the Lackawanna Citizen,
r suited us follows.
' The first nnnil.il election of ofllcers
FRANK
arxdn
DENNIS
Prescription Druggist
41 North Main Street,
Carbondale, Pa.
Prescriptions a specialty.
Agency for Sale of
sfSJ S
-elAkcU
i
&r$f Chocolates and
(Bon Bons. During semi-centennial our Soda Water
will be to its usual standard, which is the best.
, Full line of Domestic, Key West and Imported
n ij
Cigars.
for this city was held on Friday, the
lst, and although the weather wns
not as favorable as could have been
wis'hed, 4S votes were polled. Our
much esteemed nnd Mghly worthy
citizen, James Archbald, having re
ceived the unanimous support of this
delegates from the different wards, wan
elected mayor by an almost unani
mous vote. We give below a state
ment of the vote as polled:
Mayor James Archbald.
Select Couni II Joseph Uenjamln,
I'eter Campbell, Thomas Gillespie,
Mlihael Flynn.
Common Council Thomas Sweet,
n.mlel Scurry, William Hall, Patrick
Motlltt, sr., James Clarkson, William
W Ilron.-'on. Kdward Jones, Alexander
Iirydcn. IlUhard Howarth, Terrence
J'owdeily Patrick Connor, Daniel
That' her
Constables James White, Isaac
olf
Aldermen Fourth ward. Patrick
Fatr"ll. but ote not reported.
Prosecuting Attorney Oeorge Perkins
Poor Masters John Campbell, John
l.ee
Auditors William H. Richmond,
James Stntt, Thomas Voyle.
Clerk Mayor's Court William Bren
nau Assessor Fhllllps Wilson.
Treasuier Lewis Pughe.
The Mnyor'n Court.
Tip mayor's court of Carbondale has
finite an Interesting history. It had
i 'incurreiu Jurisdiction with the loun
ty courts, except In oyer and terminer
i.i-es and in cases belonging to the
orphans' court. The tlrst trial list la
as follows:
Commonwealth vs. Thomas and P.ob
ert Mathews and Francis llowon, i lot.
suiety of pence; recognizance forfeited
to bo respited next term. Thomas
Sheiry, false pretense under net of
l4i, recognizance ditto. William Ev
ans, keeping ten-pin alley without li
cense. David Prendergnst, assault
and battery, recognizance ditto.
Among the early legislation were se
lect council ordinances, one prohibiting
svvlnB, goats, shoats, etc., to run nt
large either with or without rings in
their noses or with or without yokes
or bows on their backs or necks: the
other creating the odlce of chimney
nnd stovepipe Inspector. This wns to
kufeguam against tlte.
Various Public Ofllcers.
The old mayor's court was presided
ever by the following:
William Jcssup, May 12 to Dee. 8,
1V51; J. X. Conyngham, to Dec. 1.1, 186S;
fHr tS ('
n i.vTiinru'K,
l'ut l.nwer In f jihnii'lalr.
Henry M. Hoyt (acted as) Decemner,
1SHT K. 1,. Dana to Sept. 12, lro.
(Fleeti d for the term of ten yearn .
X. Lathrop, 1S70, died in ofllce, and
Alfred Dane, appointed In 1S72, I. D.
niJhards, 1873, died In office and Al
fred Darte v ay appointed lo tiL the
vacancy and elected In 1ST4.
District Attorneys George V'. Per
kins, 1851-oft. P. C. Grltmnn. lS5fi-.1!,
lSrt2-63, 1S60-71; I. D. Illehnids. lRGS-flS:
Alfred Dai te,lS71-73; George H. Squlor,
1C.-.1-75.
Cl-rk of the Mavor's Court William
Pivnnan. ISM: Hernad McTlghe. 15.14
fil: John K. Hrown, I'rtl: George II.
Suuler, W.7; M. G. Xeary, 1S70-75.
Following James Archbald, the first
ninvor, the chief executives have been
Fdwnrd Jlfklns. isss; Gideon Froth
Ingham, llti :.Tohn M. Poore, 1S.17-R1;
Cnnfleld Hairlson. ISfil; Anthony Gra
dy, Uj.ii.i; William Ittennan, 1S65; J.
M. Poore. Infill: Thomas Voyle, UC7-t!.
J. H. Van Hergen, lSfin-7S; Thomas
Voyle. 1S73: William Morrison. 1S74.
John Xealon. 1S75-7B; Josepn nirkett.
1877: L. Marshal, 1S7S; Thomas Hren
nan. 1S7H; Anthony Battle, 1SS0-SI;
Thomas Voyle, &:.'; Henry H. Jndwln,
nRS.'.; James Hussell. 18S4; John Kelly,
1881-50. C. n. Hettew, IS'l)-; K. K.
Hendilck. 1W2-D.1; J. J. O'Neill. 1S9.1-88;
J. W. Kllpatrlck, lRftS-1001.
Tho pritnriter' slnre 1820 hnve 1 een
James W. Golf, appointed In 1.'9: Wil
liam Kggleston, 1S.W; Horatio H. Pierce,
lRHT. C. T. Plerson. 1841: Mnrtln Cur
tis. istu; F. M. Crane, ISIS, H. P. Rn
slgn, 1S44. Joseph GlllesplP, 1S49; Anth
ony Grady, 1854: D. N. Lathrop, lRhl;
William It. Haker, 18; Daniel Pren
dergast, 1S17; P. S. Joslln. 1869; D. Y.
Davles. 1881; Joseph Powderly, 188R;
W. L. Varrlngton. 1590; John Ncnlun,
1S81. J. H. Thomas. 189S.
Tho rirt Churches.
It was In lJO that cliurihes began
to be organized. Rev. Alanson Reed
organized the Carbondale Methodist
church In that year. The same year
the Catholics had their first priest to
come Into their midst. Father Fit
Simmons was the tlrst pistor nnd tho
i i hurch was built of lumber hewn from
the foiests by the members of the
flock. The first Presbyterian church
wns organized by Rev Joel Campbell
nnd Rev Ionian Richardson on June
28. 1S:'P, the first Episcopal church,
Trinity, hy Rev James Tyng In 1832;
the Welsh Baptist nnd the Welsh Cal-
rlnlstle churches the same year; tho
Berean Baptist church In 1843.
Pioneer Residents.
Among the pioneer residents who
were conspicuous In the cmmunlty
were Dr. Thomas Sweet, the first phy
sician In Carbondale; Rev. Jonathan
Noble, the first minister; Amzl Wil
son, the llrst editor, father-in-law of
Attorney Squler of this city, who is
also an old settler: Alexander Iirydcn,
mine superintendent, who proved him
self a hero dining the terrible mine
cave-In In 1846; Archibald Law, tho
first mining engineer of the Delawaru
nnd Hudson company; Hon. Lewis
Pughe, D. X. Lathrope, the first law
er In Carbondale; Thomas .Dickson,
who rope fiom a humble beginning to
the presidency of the Delaware nnd
Hudson company; Thomas Gillespie,
who formed a store partnership with
the late II. S. Pierce; Rev. Francis Car
ew, the beloved pastor of St. Rose
church: I. C. Grltmnn, the oldest mem
ber at the Lackawanna bar, nnd tho
late John H. Smith. All of these are
deceased except Mr. Grltman, who Is
an honored citizen of the city at the
present time.
Speaking of former citizens, tho
na.nie of the late William Goebel, the
Rovernor of Kentucky, who was as
sassinated In Frankfort, the capital of
that state, In January of Inst year. He
was a native of Carbondale.
There wns a celebrated character In
the early days, whose home Is printed
herewith Dr. Rafferty. He was famed
among the people of Carbondale and
vicinity for hie knowledge of the sci
ence of healing, and when Dr. Rafferty
pronounced a sufferer Incurable nil
hope vanlshedvvlth his words, so much
did the lesldcnts rely on his knowledge
and skill
Military Companies.
There have been various military
companies In Caibondale during the
last half century, before and after tho
war
The Tribune has published the rostet
H onilmlol .in I'lje J )
When in the City
call at the
Regular
D
nners
From 1 1:30 a. m. to 2:30 p. m.
HEALS ON EUROPEAN PLAN.
Coddington & T
homo
son
9
e D y and Ni vht.
-Proprietors
Cncra House Block.
J V- f M